Why is The Slav The Best Beginner Opening vs 1.d4

[@JoanRaba21]

I paid the big bucks for your course a couple months ago... So far it has scored 75% OTB... So yeah, thanks coach

[@ericwagner6839]

Great video Andras! I also struggled with facing 1.d4 before incorporating the Slav into my repertoire. Like you emphasize in the video, I prioritize getting out the bad bishop and trading it off with a London, Caro Kann, and Slav repertoire! These 3 positions are very similar and I can get almost the same familiar position every game. As a result of making this switch, and playing regular 10-minute games, I've been able to boost my rating from 1150 to 1400 rapid in just a few months!

[@kesetokaiba]

Another quality video. I have played the Slav Defense for many years. Ever since the last few years, I've been playing the Semi-Slav Defense instead. I enjoy the sharp, yet positionally deep battles of that opening. Of course, there are many other great options out there and I still have a soft-spot for the mainline pure Slav :)

[@roshbaby]

Thanks for everything you do.

[@guyainsworth61]

Thanks for this recommendation. I started using the Slav a while back and it is now my staple response.

[@Zoomjah]

Love this explanation! Thanks so much for sharing! I think it's time for me to step back to humbly embrace the more classical play, to really drill those healthy opening principles in very deeply, so that I am more likely to improve a lot more in the long run, and enjoy lots more potential in my chess games! :)

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Well said! Embrace the journey, enjoy the results!

[@ikhaatgers]

Despite preferring when my opponent opens d4, and playing for many years, I played bishop f5 for the first time this evening and entered a whole new dimension. My opponent resigned on turn 10, and I played my first ever flawless game. This video is a lot better than most coaching videos, you really know your stuff, not wasting time and spilling all the beans.

[@TikariChess]

I’ve enjoyed playing the Slav using your course since I switched from a combo of Nimzo/Bogo. I much prefer seeing d4 to e4 from my opponent now.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Great to hear!

[@JoseDownUnder]

Great video coach. I was checking out your other Slav videos few days back and just started to learn Slav bit by bit after I was recommended to checkout your beginner d4-d5 course (with focus on Slav). I think it helps intermediate players like me (1500 FIDE) as well.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

@@JoseDownUnderglad to hear! Btw , we rebranded it to club players’ from beginners as we found that it’s a lot more suitable for that cohort!

[@blazevandine5819]

Thanks!

[@ivanmoya7011]

I agree on your choice. Interesting to know what opening do you recommend next against 1.d4

[@ChessCoachAndras]

@@ivanmoya7011 if you look around the channel you will see I recommend lots of stuff. There is a cool intro video on the Benko gambit for example !

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Legend, thanks a lot!

[@markwesley9346]

At 11:48, if white doesn't play a4, is it best to continue with your sequence of developing the white squared bishop out of the pawn change or, instead, revert to the Noteboom? Thanks

[@hilarykahn3771]

could u do a stream about the 5. Bxc4 gambit line in the vienna qgd?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Very specific but maybe. Btw it’s 6.bxc4 isn’t ?

[@hilarykahn3771]

Yes that’s correct. I don’t think I quite understand those positions well, your teaching would be greatly appreciated

[@KaiParkinson-eh7zg]

Still waiting to see a rating climb series with you using your chessable courses!

[@simonhinkel4086]

Got your Slav Course last winter. First time, I'm feeling comfortable against 1. d4, 1. Kf3 ect. Was definetly worth the money 🙂🥳

[@SkibidiMiquella]

Knight in notation is N so knight to f3 is written as Nf3. King moves use K

[@squattr_music]

@@SkibidiMiquella 1.Kf3 is the Postmodern Bongcloud

[@Ye4ever]

Dear coach, Would you rather pick Slav over KID and why? Since I know your fan of KID too.

[@chickenmessiah]

At 8:20, I think it’s pronounced “knight see fork.”

[@tmbhbnt8281]

I thought you had some videos recommending the Nimzo against 1. d4

[@ChessCoachAndras]

@@tmbhbnt8281 I recommend more than 1 thing….chess is a vast universe !

[@FredPlanatia]

the nimzo is a very logical opening with sound chess principles but there are many many lines you have to learn.

[@robinesperoza]

Nimzo is great and you'll face a million different pawn structures. Slav is a bit easier to wrap your head around. I'm planning on playing both openings for diversity's sake.

[@haraldsteaksauce4582]

Is the exchange variation something to worry about for black? Lets say a 2000 plays otb with black vs a 1700 (white) who plays 3.cxd5 . Is there enough play left to fight for a win as black? A friend of mine is in the aforementioned situation and says he needs a different opening vs lower rated opponents.

[@connormonday]

In defense of 2…e6 vs 2…c6 on principle, 2…e6 is a developing move.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

In defence of me I said in the video that e6 is perfectly fine!:)

[@fredheinz1134]

What if white plays the Stonewall with d4, e3, f4 etc... does the course cover that?

[@chesslover8829]

I have a question. Why do stong players still play the QGD when they could play the Slav or Semi-Slav?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Because on the highest level the priority for Black is not to play to win but to play to not lose. And the QGD serves the latter approach better.

[@chesslover8829]

@@ChessCoachAndras Outstanding! You are a great coach! There will be times in which losing for me will be something to avoid. Nevertheless, the Slav and Semi-Slav are great openings.

[@robinesperoza]

I think there is another reason. Andras mentioned how cramped positions feel discerning. If you are a GM and have seen thousands of games and ideas you are not that concerned, don't feel stressed and have business as usual. Sometimes evaluating a position should take into account the skill of the players involved.

[@cnydo]

How do I beat the slav?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

@@cnydo Geller gambit! Per my 1.d4 course :)

[@cnydo]

@@ChessCoachAndras I play Catalan and the pyramid pawn structure is really a pain to play against

[@DreamWizard9]

Funny how you think ...Bf5 is fantastic in this opening, while you say the London System is garbage. Seems like the same idea!? Can you explain this?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Sure can: With Black this is one of the best you can get. With White, having the extra move, it does not even come close.

[@skriabinfly]

Because millions of London System players cannot be bothered to play a different pawn structure or a different piece placement. 🤣

[@ChessCoachAndras]

there is that too!:)

[@petersiegfriedkrug]

Interesting

[@noahz]

Too bad so few

[@ChessCoachAndras]

@@noahz my course covers those in detail too. But you are right, the lower you go the more sidelines you get.

[@lukastux3024]

Why not Chebanenko Slav? You also get the bishop out

[@AgentSmith-w8s]

its the reversed London,and you dont like the london coach?

[@andrewmayo9400]

the problem with the london is that it's unambitious, whereas the slav fights for equality, not an advantage. The london concedes equality from move 2 when white doesn't have to.

[@isaakvandaalen3899]

Slav is not quite a reversed London, the nature of the positions are quite different.

[@yuan813j]

the slav defense is similar to the caro kann defense so if you are not a caro kann player you will struggle in the slav defense. that is how i feel.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Your idea is right, but the way you put it is not. Being a Caro player can be helpful to understand Slav structures and ideas. I never played the caro in my life for a second and I still do rather well with the Slav. On that note....: The generic idea when learning openings is not to make it all identical/similar . It is the opposite... You should embrace all kinds of structures...